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Police making inroads in dealing with serious crimes

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The South African Police Service (SAPS) says stabilisation operations around the country to deal with serious and violent crimes, particularly cash-in-transit robberies, are yielding results.

On Wednesday, around midday, two security officers were robbed just after they had collected money at a filling station in Douglasdale, north of Johannesburg.

They were accosted and robbed by two unknown suspects, who fled the scene in a white sedan with a firearm belonging to the one of the security guards, as well as two cash boxes.

Immediately after a report was received by police, a multidisciplinary team consisting of various units, including the SAPS airwing were mobilised, to support the Johannesburg West Cluster police.

They cordoned off the area near Diepsloot, forcing the suspects to abandon their vehicle, which will be processed to determine the ownership and whether it is stolen or hijacked.

The police found an unlicensed rifle inside the vehicle which will be sent for ballistic testing to determine if it was used in the commission of other crimes.

The informal settlement of Diepsloot was cordoned off and combed by the various SAPS units and at least one suspect was arrested and the two cash boxes containing an undisclosed amount of money were recovered.

This is not the first time that alleged robbers are arrested within a short space of time after robberies and attempted robberies are committed.

Just last week, the police arrested more than 20 suspects linked to cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and attempted robberies committed in Hammanskraal, Boksburg and Dobsonville. During the arrests, various calibres of firearms, vehicles and cash were also seized.

The impact of over 100 high performance vehicles handed over by the Minister of Police to various provinces from the beginning of June are also contributing to the rapid response of police to crime scenes of serious and violent crimes.

We will continue to remain resolute in our efforts to combat crime and protect South Africans until they feel safe and secure.

The arrest of the suspect and recovery of the vehicle, firearm and stolen money is a clear indication that we will not allow criminals any space to manoeuvre, Police Commissioner General Kehla Sitole said.

The search for the second suspect is still continuing. The arrested suspect will appear in court soon.